Circle January 28 on your calendar. That’s when the first Old Age Security payment of 2026 hits your bank account—and it’s going to be slightly higher than what you received in December.
I’m talking about real money here, not some vague government promise. The increase is confirmed, it’s automatic, and you don’t need to do a single thing to get it. For many Canadian seniors, this represents the most predictable source of retirement income, and understanding exactly how it works can make the difference between stress and confidence when managing your monthly budget.
Let me walk you through everything that’s changing, who gets what, and—most importantly—how to make sure you’re getting every dollar you’re entitled to.
The 0.3% Increase: Small Number, Real Impact
Starting January 2026, Old Age Security benefits increased by 0.3% based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. That might sound modest, but here’s the thing: it adds up over a full year, and it’s just the first quarterly adjustment of 2026.
Over the past year, from January 2025 to January 2026, OAS has risen by 2.0%. That’s inflation protection working exactly as it should.
Unlike the Canada Pension Plan, which adjusts once a year, OAS gets reviewed and adjusted every single quarter—in January, April, July, and October. This means your payments respond faster to cost-of-living changes.
And here’s the crucial part that many people miss: OAS rates increase when inflation rises, but they don’t decrease when inflation falls. Your payment can only go up or stay flat. It will never get cut because prices cooled down.
How Much Money Are We Actually Talking About?
Let’s get specific. The maximum monthly OAS amounts for January to March 2026 are:
Ages 65-74: Up to $742.31 per month
Ages 75+: Up to $816.54 per month
Those higher amounts for seniors 75 and older aren’t temporary. Back in July 2022, the government permanently increased OAS by 10% for this age group, recognizing that expenses—especially healthcare costs—tend to rise as people get older.
Now, a critical clarification: these are maximum amounts. Not everyone receives the full amount, and that’s where things get more nuanced.
The Partial OAS Reality for Newcomers and Recent Residents
If you immigrated to Canada as an adult, this section is for you.
Full OAS requires 40 years of residence in Canada after turning 18. If you have less than that—say, 15 years or 25 years—you’ll receive a partial pension.
The calculation is straightforward: your monthly payment equals (years of residence ÷ 40) × maximum OAS amount.
Example: If you’ve lived in Canada for 20 years after age 18, you’d get 20/40 = 50% of the maximum OAS payment. At the 65-74 rate, that’s $371.16 per month instead of $742.31.
The minimum to qualify at all? Ten years of residence in Canada after age 18. Less than that, and you won’t receive OAS unless you qualify through an international social security agreement with your home country.
This is why many permanent residents who arrived in their 40s or 50s receive smaller OAS payments than native-born Canadians—it’s not about citizenship, it’s about residence time.
GIS: The Hidden Benefit That Can Double Your Payment
Here’s where many seniors leave serious money on the table.
When people say “I get OAS,” they often mean they’re receiving multiple benefits that all get deposited together on the same day. The biggest add-on is the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
Maximum monthly GIS amounts (January to March 2026):
- Single person receiving OAS: up to $1,108.74
- Allowance (for 60-64 year olds with spouse on OAS): up to $1,409.72
- Allowance for the Survivor: up to $1,680.47
GIS is designed for low-income seniors. If you’re receiving OAS and your income is below certain thresholds, you automatically qualify for GIS—but only if you file your taxes every year.
Here’s the catch: GIS gets recalculated every July based on your previous year’s net income. So your OAS might stay steady because of quarterly CPI indexing, but your GIS could change in July because you earned more (or less) last year.
This is why some seniors see their total deposit jump or drop in July even when nothing changed with their OAS pension itself.
Every OAS Payment Date for 2026
Let me save you some Googling. Here’s the complete payment schedule:
- January 28, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- March 27, 2026
- April 28, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- June 26, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- October 28, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026
Most payments land in the last week of the month. The exception is December, which comes a few days early so the money arrives before Christmas.
If you use direct deposit, your money typically appears on these exact dates. If you still receive paper cheques, add a few days for mail delivery—and honestly, if you haven’t switched to direct deposit yet, do yourself a favor and make that change. It’s faster, more secure, and eliminates the stress of waiting for mail.
The OAS Clawback: When Higher Income Means Lower Benefits
This is the part high-income seniors need to understand.
OAS is taxable income. That’s the first thing. But on top of regular income tax, there’s also something called the OAS recovery tax—what most people call the “clawback.”
For 2026, the recovery tax kicks in at:
- Ages 65-74: net world income above $95,323 (fully clawed back at $154,708)
- Ages 75+: net world income above $95,323 (fully clawed back at $160,647)
“Net world income” includes income from all sources—Canadian and foreign—including the OAS pension itself.
If your income falls in this range, you’ll have to repay part or all of your OAS when you file your taxes. For every dollar you earn above the threshold, you lose 15 cents of OAS.
This is why wealthy retirees strategically time RRSP withdrawals, RRIF conversions, and capital gains realization. If you’re close to the threshold, pulling out an extra $50,000 from your RRSP in one year could trigger thousands in OAS clawback.
Should You Delay OAS Past Age 65?
Most people start OAS at 65 because, well, that’s when you’re eligible. But you don’t have to.
You can voluntarily defer OAS up to age 70, and for every month you delay, your monthly payment increases by 0.6%. Wait the full five years to age 70, and your monthly OAS jumps by 36%.
When deferring makes sense:
- You’re still working and earning good income between 65 and 70
- You’d be subject to the OAS clawback if you started at 65
- You expect to live well into your 80s or beyond (so the higher lifetime payout is worth it)
- You want to minimize early retirement taxable income
When deferring doesn’t make sense:
- You need the income now
- You qualify for GIS (delaying OAS means delaying GIS, which could cost you more in total benefits)
- You have health concerns that might shorten your life expectancy
There’s no universal right answer. It depends entirely on your personal financial situation, health, and other income sources.
The Immigrant’s Dilemma: Partial OAS vs. International Agreements
If you spent part of your working life in another country, you might still qualify for benefits through international social security agreements Canada has with dozens of countries.
These agreements let you combine your years of residence/contributions in both countries to meet minimum eligibility requirements. You can then receive partial benefits from each country based on how long you lived there.
Example: You lived 15 years in Canada (not enough for full OAS but enough for partial) and 20 years in the UK. The Canada-UK agreement means:
- You qualify for partial OAS based on your 15 Canadian years
- You also qualify for UK state pension based on your 20 years there
- You receive both payments, though each is partial
Canada has agreements with countries including the United States, Mexico, most of Europe, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many others. If you immigrated from one of these countries, it’s worth investigating whether an agreement applies to your situation.
What To Do If Your January 28 Payment Doesn’t Arrive
First, don’t panic immediately. Service Canada notes that payments can take a few business days to process, especially at the start of a new quarter.
Before you call Service Canada:
- Confirm your direct deposit information is correct in your My Service Canada Account
- Check if you’ve moved and forgot to update your address
- Verify you filed your 2024 tax return (GIS requires annual tax filing)
- Give it until January 30 or 31—processing delays happen
If by January 31 there’s still nothing, then it’s time to contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
For cheque recipients, remember that mail can be slower than electronic deposits, especially in January. If you’re in a remote area, add extra days for delivery.
How to Check Your Exact OAS Amount
The government has moved away from publishing detailed rate tables because everyone’s situation is different. Instead, they want you to use personalized tools.
The best way to see your exact amount:
- Log into your My Service Canada Account at canada.ca
- Navigate to the “Old Age Security” section
- View your payment details and history
- Use the OAS Benefits Estimator for future projections
This is especially important if you have a partial OAS due to limited residence years. The standard maximum tables won’t tell you what you’re actually getting.
Common Myths I Keep Hearing
Myth: “OAS is only for Canadian citizens.”
Wrong. Permanent residents qualify too, as long as they meet the residence requirements.
Myth: “You need to have worked in Canada to get OAS.”
Wrong. OAS is based on residence, not work history. You could have never worked a day in Canada and still qualify if you lived here long enough.
Myth: “OAS increases once a year.”
Wrong. It’s reviewed quarterly. CPP increases annually; OAS is more frequent.
Myth: “If I’m getting OAS, I’m automatically getting the maximum amount.”
Wrong. Partial pensions are extremely common, especially among immigrants.
Why January Matters More Than Other Months
January brings the start of a new quarter for OAS, which means it’s when the latest CPI adjustments take effect. It’s also the beginning of the calendar year, which matters for:
- Tax planning (new income thresholds for the clawback)
- GIS calculations (which will reset again in July)
- Budgeting for the year ahead
Plus, for many seniors, January is when other annual adjustments happen—CPP increases, property tax changes, insurance renewals. Having a clear picture of your OAS amount helps you plan for all of these at once.
Final Thoughts: Predictability in Uncertain Times
The best thing about OAS isn’t the amount—though every dollar helps. It’s the predictability.
You know exactly when payments arrive. You know they’ll adjust quarterly for inflation. You know they won’t get cut. And you know that once you’re in the system, the money keeps coming as long as you remain eligible.
For many Canadian seniors, especially those who immigrated later in life or who have limited workplace pensions, OAS forms the foundation of retirement security. It’s not luxurious, but it’s reliable.
The January 28 payment kicks off 2026 with a confirmed increase. Not huge, but real. And with quarterly reviews still ahead in April, July, and October, there’s potential for additional adjustments if inflation continues.
Make sure your banking information is current, file your taxes on time to maintain GIS eligibility if you qualify, and keep an eye on your My Service Canada Account to confirm everything processes smoothly.
Your January 28 payment is on the way. It’s higher than last year. And if you understand how the system works, you can make the most of every dollar.
Quick Reference Guide
Maximum OAS (Jan-Mar 2026):
- Age 65-74: $742.31/month
- Age 75+: $816.54/month
Next Payment Date: January 28, 2026
Eligibility Minimum: 10 years in Canada after age 18 (for partial OAS)
Full OAS Requirement: 40 years in Canada after age 18
Clawback Threshold: Net income above $95,323
Contact Service Canada: 1-800-277-9914
